Dudley Clark thinks he’s created something much more than a tasting room for whiskey and other drinks with the Hard Times Hideaway in downtown Corvallis, which opened in December.

“We provide adults with a sanctuary, a place to get away from all the noise and the hurly-burly,” Clark said.

Clark, the owner of the Hard Times Distillery in Monroe, was looking for a retail outlet for his hard alcohol operation. At the Hideaway, customers can taste Sweet Baby Moonshine, Green Geisha Wasabi Vodka or other Hard Times liquors, have a cocktail, then take home a bottle.

But the Hard Times Hideaway also offers creole and Cajun food from Clark’s native Louisiana, such as a pan fried catfish po’ boy, spicy buttered shrimp and andouille sausage over grits and collards, cast iron habanero corn bread and more.

“We’re a bar with amazing food, so you have two reasons to come back,” Clark said. Everything is made from scratch, and in Corvallis, no one else has such an emphasis on New Orleans cuisine, he added.

“This is bringing a slice of the French Quarter to Corvallis,” Clark said.

The Hard Times Hideaway doesn’t have televisions, minors aren’t allowed, and there’s a warm feeling with the red curtains inside.

The bar also has dozens of other whiskeys available.

So far, the best-selling cocktails have included the New Orleans Saz and the Wasabatini.

Clark also has partnered with McKenzie Brewing, and several of that company’s craft beers are on tap.

In the spring, Clark hopes to add outdoor seating and a Sunday brunch, where minors would be allowed to dine.

He also plans to have special events such as a Fat Tuesday celebration, trivia nights, a crawdad feed, drag shows and more.

The Hard Times Distillery, which was founded in 2009 in Monroe, currently has six different varieties of hard alcohol for sale, and more are on the way, including a single malt whiskey and a rye whiskey.

The Hard Times Hideaway, 425 SW Madison Ave. Suite B, is open from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. or later on Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, call 541-360-0380 or go to the business’ Facebook page.